Phnom PenhCapital
Cambodia · Country profile
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, a flat, hot, rapid-growing city on the great river junction of the Mekong and the Tonlé Sap, where the royal palace, the temple of the silver pagoda and the colonial-era streets of the French period hold the centre. The city has known the extremes of the twentieth century, and its museums and memorials of the Khmer Rouge era, the Tuol Sleng and the killing fields, are among the most sombre and essential sights in the world. The everyday life of the city is warm, entrepreneurial and deeply resilient, with the riverfront bars, the markets and the street food of the districts running through the days and the nights. Golden, scarred, hopeful and endlessly hospitable, Phnom Penh is a capital that rewards the visitor who comes to understand.
About Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia. The city's documented population is around 2,280,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR) and Khmer is spoken; the dialling code is +855.
The Palace, the River and the Pagoda of the Silver
Phnom Penh is a fast-moving, friendly capital where the golden palace, the silver pagoda and the riverside promenade hold the classic centre, and the markets and the street life run the everyday energy. The deeper story of the city, the tragedy of the Khmer Rouge era, is told with raw honesty in the genocide museum and the killing fields, and every visitor should make the time for it. The city is compact and navigable, with the tuk-tuks filling every distance and the food of the streets among the best in the region. It is a city of contrasts, of the painful past and the hopeful present, and its charm, its food and its warmth carry the rest of the trip.
The Dry Season, the Memorials and the Dress of the Temples
The dry season from November to April is the pleasant window, and the riverfront and the streets are at their best in the cooler months. The sacred sites of the palace and the pagoda ask for the covered shoulders and the knees, and the shoes are removed at the temple entries. The memorials of the darker history deserve a guided, careful visit, and the dress and the conduct there should be respectful and quiet. The riel works alongside the US dollar at a fixed rate, and the cards are accepted in the bigger venues. The tuk-tuks need the agreed price before the ride. The city is safe, hot and increasingly easy, and the food, from the amok to the street grills, is a genuine joy.
The Promenade, the Tuk-Tuks and the Grills of the Evening
The royal palace and the silver pagoda are the essential golden walk of the city, and the riverfront promenade, with its statue of the King Father and its cafes, is the great evening promenade. The central market, the great domed building of the art deco era, and the markets of the Russian and the local tradition crowd the commerce of the whole country. The Tuol Sleng and the Choeung Ek memorials, the genocide museum and the killing fields, are the essential, heartbreaking history of the city and should be visited with care and with time. The bars of the riverfront and the streets of the new restaurants give the evenings. Phnom Penh is a city of brightness, of memory and of a hospitality that the history never quite defeats.
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- Country
- Cambodia
- Population
- 2,280,000
- Capital
- Phnom Penh
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Cambodian Riel (KHR)
- Languages
- Khmer
- Calling code
- +855
- Country code
- KH
Entry requirements for Cambodia
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Cambodia for tourism.
Frequently asked questions
Is Phnom Penh the capital of Cambodia?
Yes — Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia.
What currency do I need in Phnom Penh?
The local currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR). Languages spoken in Cambodia include Khmer.
What is the dialling code for Cambodia?
The international dialling code for Cambodia is +855.
Do I need a visa to visit Cambodia?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Australia (e-visa), Canada (e-visa), India (e-visa), Japan (e-visa) and Morocco (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Phnom Penh? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.